It is a sobering statistic that 240 people died on the district’s roads over a ten-year period.

We often talk of such tragedies as “road accidents”, but the fact is that many of them are due to factors that could be avoided – speeding motorists, pedestrians not taking proper care, idiotic behaviour in poor conditions.

Although the figure of road deaths, when presented in such a stark manner, is high, it is good to hear that the actual numbers of casualties are reducing – that is certainly a welcome movement in the right direction.

What is also interesting is that the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership also draws a correlation between the numbers of accidents involving children and the levels of deprivation in the areas where they live.

Children – as well they should – enjoy playing outside in the fresh air. But some of the less affluent areas don’t have the same outdoor facilities for children that more well-off wards have, says the Partnership.

At this time of year, as the nights are longer and darkness falls earlier, parents may be less willing to let children head off to the nearest park without adult supervision, so they tend to play in the streets outside their homes – where many accidents occur.

There is no easy answer to this, but it is at least heartening to see that the Partnership has recognised this trend and is working with other agencies to look at ways of making play safer for children. As ever, though, money is an issue. The Partnership has seen its funding slashed by two thirds, and it has to choose and prioritise the schemes it pursues. We can all do our bit to help, though, by driving safely and instilling road-sense in our children.